There are three types of Force powers; light, dark and neutral. Light Force powers provide nonviolent advantages such as being able to restore health or persuade enemies to ignore the player. Dark Force powers are violent and give the ability to throw objects or choke enemies. Neutral powers enhance athletic abilities such as being able to jump higher or run faster. There are fourteen powers in total, four of each type and a bonus power in each light and dark if the Jedi stays true to that path. Players earn stars to allocate toward Force powers by completing specific levels. By finding all the secrets in a level, players can also gain one bonus star to use. Between levels, the player can choose which Force powers to enhance by allocating stars to that power. Stars cannot be reclaimed from powers later on.
Some levels contain puzzles that may require use of the Force to overcome, or by locating certain objects in the level. There are a variety of hostile and non-hostile NPCs within each level with whom the player can interact. Other enemies include monsters and vehicles. There are two endings to Jedi Knight, depending on how the player plays the game. If the player does not harm non-hostile NPCs and focuses on collecting light Force powers, the player will get the light side ending. Conversely if the player harms non-hostile NPCs and collects dark Force powers, the game will end with the dark side ending.
Multiplayer
Jedi Knight includes a multiplayer mode that allows up to eight people to compete with one another on a local area network and up to thirty two people online. Online gaming was hosted by the MSN Gaming Zone. The player creates an avatar within Jedi Knight and selects a ranking, with higher rankings having access to more Force powers. The player can also edit their avatar's "skin" and lightsaber color. There are two types of game in Jedi Knight's multiplayer mode, "Capture the flag" and "Jedi Training", similar to deathmatch. The players can customize the settings to play a deathmatch the way they desire; for example, by limiting the use of Force powers or playing on teams.
Plot
The game is set one year after the events of Return of the Jedi. Like Dark Forces, the player controls a mercenary named Kyle Katarn.
In the prologue, a dark Jedi named Jerec interrogates Jedi Master Qu Rahn and learns that Morgan Katarn, Kyle's father, knows the location of the sacred Valley of the Jedi.
On Nar Shaddaa, Kyle learns from an information broker droid named 8t88 that his father was killed by Jerec. 8t88 shows Kyle a data disk from Morgan containing data he can't decipher. Kyle pursues 8t88 to retrieve the disk and meets the droid on a landing pad. Kyle fires at him, severing the arm carrying the disk. Kyle's close friend, Jan Ors, arrives in their ship, the Moldy Crow, to destroy a Tie Bomber that attacks Kyle. He descends through Nar Shaddaa to retrieve the disk and then meets Ors. Kyle is taken to a medical frigate for treatment and sees a vision from Rahn. Rahn reveals that Jerec seeks the Valley to gain its power and that the data disk contains information to lead him on the path to become a Jedi.
On Sulon, Jerec's Dark Jedi remove the map to the Valley from Morgan's workshop as Kyle arrives. Kyle fights Tusken Raiders until he reaches the workshop and the family droid, Weegee. The droid decodes the disk to show a recording of Morgan. In the recording, Morgan reveals that the map to the Valley was carved into the ceiling tiles of the workshop and that he has left Kyle a lightsaber that had belonged to Rahn. Katarn and Ors land on the outskirts of Barons Hed. Kyle infiltrates the city and the fortress at its center, finding 8t88's chambers. 8t88 shares the map with Jerec and leaves to collect his reward on a starship called the Sulon Star. Kyle is attacked by the youngest of Jerec's dark Jedi, Yun. He defeats Yun but spares his life.
Ors takes Kyle to the refueling station the Sulon Star is docked at. Kyle boards the Sulon Star through the fuel lines and finds 8t88 dead. He is attacked by two more of Jerec's Dark Jedi, Gorc and Pic. He defeats them and takes the droid's head.
Using Weegee, Kyle displays the map to the Valley.
When Kyle and Ors arrive, the Sulon Star is docked above the Valley. Kyle fights his way through canyons and up to the dock. He is attacked by another Dark Jedi, Maw. Kyle defeats Maw but lashes out in rage and kills him. Jerec reveals he has captured Ors and tells Kyle to kill her. If Kyle has followed the light side, he spares Ors. If he has followed the Dark Side, he kills Ors. Jerec uses the Force to push Kyle onto the Sulon Star and to disable the ship. It falls into the canyon below and explodes as Kyle narrowly escapes on the Moldy Crow.
If Kyle has followed the Light Side, he crashes the Moldy Crow and is woken up by the remaining of Jerec's Dark Jedi: Sariss, Boc, and Yun. Boc destroys Kyle's lightsaber. Sariss tries to execute Kyle but is stopped by Yun who is fatally struck in the process. Kyle takes Yun's lightsaber and kills Sariss. If Kyle followed the Dark Side, he lands the Moldy Crow. He confronts Yun and kills the Dark Jedi.
Kyle follows Boc into the ruins and defeats him as Jerec meditates in the center of the Valley. Jerec awakes and confronts Kyle. He is defeated before he can gain the full power.
If Kyle followed the Light Side, he throws Jerec's lightsaber back to him. Jerec makes one final attack and is killed. Kyle reunites with Ors and builds monuments to Morgan and Rahn in the Valley. If Kyle followed the Dark Side, he kills Jerec and takes over leading the new empire with Sariss at his side.
